When Lila Satterfield took the court, it was the first time since 2014 that the Racquet Cats had players compete at state. And though she lost 6-2, 6-1 to Reyna Xiao of Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial, it capped a season of excitement for the sophomore.
“I feel super happy to be here and to represent my school and to know that my hard work paid off,” Satterfield said. “I’m still definitely soaking it in, but I really feel great about my progress.”
Satterfield qualified for state by finishing third in the Class 5A Region I Tournament on May 7-8 at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. This came after she won the District 5-5A championship.
Aledo coach Joe McCoy said Satterfield made it no secret her goal was to reach state this season. She began talking about it in the fall and kept it in the forefront of her focus all season long.
“It’s awesome. It couldn’t happen to a better kid,” he said. “She started early thinking about state and she made it happen.”
Satterfield competed in doubles as a freshman. As a sophomore she burst to the top of the Racquet Cats’ girls singles ladder, taking over as the No. 1 seed.
“Certainly at the beginning of the fall you could tell she had put in a lot of work,” McCoy said. “When she leaves our practice, she’s going somewhere else to hit, and she plays on the weekend.”
Satterfield said her regular routine throughout the school year is practicing and playing in matches for the Racquet Cats, then going to lessons on Mondays and Wednesdays at All Saints and TCU. Other days she goes to practice at TCU following her play at school.
She also runs once a week and has recently started doing hot yoga.
About once every two weeks, she also plays in a United States Tennis Association Tournament. Her Universal Tennis Rating has risen from the mid-4s to a 5.6.
Xiao entered state with a UTR rating of 7.2.
“She can get there. She’s got the talent and the work ethic,” McCoy said.
Satterfield’s father played tennis in college at Blinn. Her sister, Skylar, is a volleyball player in the seventh grade.
Satterfield has her sights set on playing beyond high school as well and is going to attend a college showcase May 31 in Orlando, Florida. She said she will also expand her USTA schedule a tournament each week, traveling throughout the south.
“I’m excited,” she said. “It’s going to be a great summer.”
And she plans to be back in San Antonio next season with different results.
“Next year I’d really like to make it to the second day,” she said.
To reach the second day (the semifinals and finals), players must win two matches or have a bye and win in the second round.
McCoy said that while it will be a challenge getting back — the other top four players in the region are also sophomores — he likes her chances.
“There are absolutely high expectations for her — and not just from me, but from herself,” he said.
Satterfield’s play highlighted a season in which the Racquet Cats qualified eight players for regionals, collecting six wins in all.
“I’m super proud of our team. We had a great year,” McCoy said. “Let’s keep it rolling.”
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